The Next New Madrid Earthquake: A Survival Guide for the Midwest (Shawnee Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: base isolation systems, chimneys toppled, earthquake lights, New Madrid, Mississippi Valley, The Present (more...)

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Product Description

Scientists who specialize in the study of Mississippi Valley earthquakes say that the region is overdue for a powerful tremor that will cause major damage and undoubtedly some casualties.

The inevitability of a future quake and the lack of preparation by both individuals and communities provided the impetus for this book. Atkinson brings together applicable information from many disciplines: history, geology and seismology, engineering, zoology, politics and community planning, economics, environmental science, sociology, and psychology and mental health to provide the most comprehensive perspective to date of the myriad impacts of a major earthquake on the Mississippi Valley.

Atkinson addresses such basic questions as "What, actually, are earthquakes? How do they occur? Where are they likely to occur? Can they be predicted, perhaps even prevented?" He also addresses those steps that individuals can take to improve their chances for survival both during and after an earthquake.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

William Atkinson is a freelance writer with more than 2,000 articles published and is the author of The Safety Management Handbook.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details Paperback: 224 pages Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press; 1st edition (June 19, 1989) Language: English ISBN-10: 0809313200 ISBN-13: 978-0809313204 Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #588,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #40 in  Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Volcanology #71 in  Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Earthquakes & Volcanoes #81 in  Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Seismology

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
base isolation systems, chimneys toppled, earthquake lights, earthquake preparedness, earthquake problem, most powerful earthquakes, earthquake insurance, earthquake prediction

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Madrid, Mississippi Valley, The Present, The Future, United States, Mississippi River, Little Prairie, The Next Twenty Years, San Francisco, South Carolina, North American Plate, New York, Atlantic Ocean, The Past, Gulf of Mexico, Rocky Mountains, Mississippi Embayment, Earthquake Theory, San Andreas Fault, West Virginia, Los Angeles, Reelfoot Rift, Otto Nuttli, San Fernando, North Carolina

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

5 books cite this book:

• On Shaky Ground: The New Madrid Earthquakes of 1811-1812 (Missouri Heritage Readers) by Norma Hayes Bagnall in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
• Command and Control of Disaster Operations by Walter Guerry, III Green on page 242
• Illinois: CROSSROADS OF A CONTINENT by Lois Carrier on page 38
• Cartographies of Danger: Mapping Hazards in America by Mark Monmonier in Back Matter
• Cartographies of Danger: Mapping Hazards in America by Mark Monmonier in Back Matter

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	59% buy the item featured on this page: The Next New Madrid Earthquake: A Survival Guide for the Midwest (Shawnee Books) 4.0 out of 5 stars (5) $17.95
	13% buy When the Mississippi Ran Backwards : Empire, Intrigue, Murder, and the New Madrid Earthquakes 4.1 out of 5 stars (28) $18.48
	11% buy The New Madrid Earthquakes 4.0 out of 5 stars (1) $19.95
	9% buy Memphis 7.9 (revised): Book 1 of The 7.9 Scenario (Volume 1) 4.6 out of 5 stars (7) $17.99

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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews 5 star:  (1) 4 star:  (3) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 22 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for anyone in the Mississippi Valley, January 23, 2004 By  Jerald R Lovell (Clinton Township, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    The dangerous propensities of the midcontinental earthquake zone known by the name of the New Madrid fault system are part and parcel of life in the area where the Ohio River joins the Mississippi river system. In 1811 and 1812, a bone-shattering series of earthquakes took place here, three of which are estimated at over 8.3 on the Richter scale, devastating this region, creating new lakes, making the Mississippi run backwards for a time, raising hills, and changing river courses. If such a series of events took place today, the consequences would be almost unimaginable. Atkinson's book explores these matters with a studied eye, an easily understoood writing style, and contains many excellent diagrams forecasting where future quake damage will occur, and in what amount. It also contains a shocking series of narratives about how little has been done to prepare for the next emergency. Make no mistake, the New Madrid earthquakes of the early nineteenth century are not the last seismic events in this region. This book should be required reading for every local and state government official in this region and, especially for every civil defense person. While no one knows when the next giant eathquake will occur, and it may be some hundreds of years away, the magnitude of the potential disaster dictates readiness now. Examples would include strict rules regarding construction of building highways, bridges, pipelines, levees, sewage and water systems and the like. This book points out clearly what should be done. I recommend the book highly. 16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars The Need for Earthquake Preparedness, August 2, 2000 By  Trent Fleming (Memphis, Tennessee) - See all my reviews This book does an excellent job of describing the recent history of the New Madrid fault, and the impact of recorded earthquakes in that area. The book also serves as an effective planning guide for government agencies, businesses, and indiviuals. Proper preparation is critical if this now highly developed region is to survive another earthquake or series of earthquakes such as those that occured in 1811-12. 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but..., August 23, 2008 By  One Careful Spender - See all my reviews I thought the first part of this book was fascinating. I thought it probably gave a pretty accurate picture of what the damage was likely to be, and how the damage would occur. I was looking forward to reading about the probable psychological responses to a catastrophe like this. Once I got there, I found myself nodding my head, remembering Katrina. What gave me pause was when the author cited several quotes by a Dennis Mileti. Mileti claims that looting is almost non-existent in catastrophes. "Sociologists, in fact, have tried to interview arrested looters after over one hundred disasters, according to Mileti, but they can never find any." I then looked at the date of publication of this book - 1989. Even so, to say that looting has almost never occurred during disasters is very hard to believe. It's not my THINGS that I care about, it's the psychological unease of bands of criminals roaming the area. I felt that should have been researched and written about a little better.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars California ain't got nothin' on New Madrid Very well researched book on the New Madrid fault line. Chronicles many of the major earthquakes including the 1811-1812 quakes that rerouted the Missippi. Read more Published 16 months ago by Crystal A. Scott 4.0 out of 5 stars From a Member of New Madrid, Missouri From a person who lives in New Madrid, this book is very helpful. It lists all the things, you need to know. Read more Published 19 months ago by Liz Crouthers Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press; 1st edition (June 19, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809313200
• ISBN-13: 978-0809313204
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #588,361 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #40 in	Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Volcanology
  #71 in	Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Earthquakes & Volcanoes
  #81 in	Books > Science > Earth Sciences > Seismology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for anyone in the Mississippi Valley, January 23, 2004

By	Jerald R Lovell (Clinton Township, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The dangerous propensities of the midcontinental earthquake zone known by the name of the New Madrid fault system are part and parcel of life in the area where the Ohio River joins the Mississippi river system. In 1811 and 1812, a bone-shattering series of earthquakes took place here, three of which are estimated at over 8.3 on the Richter scale, devastating this region, creating new lakes, making the Mississippi run backwards for a time, raising hills, and changing river courses. If such a series of events took place today, the consequences would be almost unimaginable.

Atkinson's book explores these matters with a studied eye, an easily understoood writing style, and contains many excellent diagrams forecasting where future quake damage will occur, and in what amount. It also contains a shocking series of narratives about how little has been done to prepare for the next emergency. Make no mistake, the New Madrid earthquakes of the early nineteenth century are not the last seismic events in this region.

This book should be required reading for every local and state government official in this region and, especially for every civil defense person. While no one knows when the next giant eathquake will occur, and it may be some hundreds of years away, the magnitude of the potential disaster dictates readiness now. Examples would include strict rules regarding construction of building highways, bridges, pipelines, levees, sewage and water systems and the like. This book points out clearly what should be done.

I recommend the book highly.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Need for Earthquake Preparedness, August 2, 2000

By	Trent Fleming (Memphis, Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This book does an excellent job of describing the recent history of the New Madrid fault, and the impact of recorded earthquakes in that area.

The book also serves as an effective planning guide for government agencies, businesses, and indiviuals. Proper preparation is critical if this now highly developed region is to survive another earthquake or series of earthquakes such as those that occured in 1811-12.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but..., August 23, 2008

By	One Careful Spender - See all my reviews

I thought the first part of this book was fascinating. I thought it probably gave a pretty accurate picture of what the damage was likely to be, and how the damage would occur. I was looking forward to reading about the probable psychological responses to a catastrophe like this. Once I got there, I found myself nodding my head, remembering Katrina. What gave me pause was when the author cited several quotes by a Dennis Mileti. Mileti claims that looting is almost non-existent in catastrophes. "Sociologists, in fact, have tried to interview arrested looters after over one hundred disasters, according to Mileti, but they can never find any." I then looked at the date of publication of this book - 1989. Even so, to say that looting has almost never occurred during disasters is very hard to believe.

It's not my THINGS that I care about, it's the psychological unease of bands of criminals roaming the area. I felt that should have been researched and written about a little better.